Is it just me, or does the cosmic weather this May 14 feel like it’s conspiring to stir up some serious drama? With Mercury still doing its unpredictable dance in Gemini—messy conversations and sharp words flying everywhere—no wonder the clash between Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump has blown up like a supernova. The legendary “Born in the U.S.A.” rocker didn’t hold back in Manchester, labeling the Trump administration as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous,” igniting a fiery backlash from the former (and future?) president himself. Whether you’re a fan of Springsteen’s anthem of hope or Trump’s bombastic comebacks, this feud perfectly encapsulates the chaotic energy Mars is throwing down right now—fiery, relentless, and utterly unavoidable. So, grab your popcorn… or your birth chart—because this battle of words might just be written in the stars. LEARN MORE.
Donald Trump has hit out in response to legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen’s comments about his presidency.
Earlier this week (14 May), the ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ singer opened his Land of Hopes and Dreams tour in Manchester and made his thoughts about the 45th and 47th US leader very clear, referring to the Trump administration ‘corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous’ in a viral clip.
“In my home, the America I love, the America I have written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration,” Springsteen told a cheering crowd.
“Tonight we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against the authoritarianism.”
The rocker wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on Donald Trump (Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)
Given the fact that several of Springsteen’s biggest hits praise America and its values, the 75-year-old’s scathing assessment of Trump will likely come as a major blow to the president.
However, Trump isn’t one to pass up on the opportunity to engage in a verbal spat and took aim at Springsteen during one of his many Truth Social rants.
“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States. Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics,” Trump declared.
Going on to brand Springsteen as ‘not a talented guy’ – which 20 Grammys, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom would beg to differ – Trump continued: “[He’s] Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country.
“If I wasn’t elected, it would have been GONE by now!”
The comments had clearly struck a nerve with the Republican leader, as he continued to rip into his predecessor Joe Biden before insulting Springsteen’s appearance, saying he was a ‘dried out prune of a rocker’, and warning the ‘Dancing in the Dark’ singer to ‘keep his mouth shut’.
The comments clearly ruffled feathers with the US President (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare.’ Then we’ll all see how it goes for him,” he added.
So yeah, it’s definitely safe to say that Springsteen’s comments may have gotten under Trump’s skin a little bit.
Meanwhile, it’s understood that the viral moment wasn’t the only time Springsteen called out the current US government during the concert, with Stereogum reporting that he gave two further speeches during the show.
“There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous s**t going on out there right now,” he told the crowd before playing ‘My City of Ruins’.
“In America they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now.”